Latisha Monique Frazier, an 18-year-old mother, was last seen on August 2, 2010, after finishing her shift at a McDonald's in Oxon Hill, Maryland. She was a recent graduate of Crossland High School and was contemplating enrolling in college. Described by her mother as a responsible and hardworking teenager, Frazier was a dedicated mother to her three-year-old daughter. She resided in Washington D.C. and, according to her boyfriend, was planning to meet up with friends after work on the day she vanished. Her family reported her missing that same day, initiating a search that would uncover a tragic and brutal crime.
The investigation into Frazier's disappearance took a dark turn when, about five months later, threatening messages were posted on her Facebook page, claiming she had been murdered and her body discarded in Rock Creek Park. The truth, however, was even more horrific. Investigators discovered that Frazier had been lured to an apartment in the 1700 block of Trenton Place SE by a group of people she considered her friends. There, she was ambushed and brutally beaten, stomped, and choked to death. The motive for this vicious attack was the unsubstantiated belief that Frazier had stolen $900 from one of the assailants, Johnnie Sweet. Prosecutors later stated there was no evidence to support this theft ever occurred.
Six individuals were ultimately charged and convicted in connection with Frazier's murder: Brian A. Gathier, Johnnie A. Sweet, Anneka Nelson, Cinthya Proctor, Laurence Kamal Hassan, and Lanee Bell. At the time of the murder, most of the defendants were teenagers. The group, recruited by Sweet, carried out the attack while Frazier was still in her McDonald's uniform. After the murder, they bound her with duct tape, placed a pillowcase over her head, and hid her body in a closet. Later, they attempted to dismember her remains before disposing of her body in a dumpster.
Five of the defendants, Bell, Hassan, Proctor, Nelson, and Gaither, eventually pleaded guilty to their roles in the murder. They claimed they only intended to beat Frazier as a lesson and did not mean for her to die. Johnnie Sweet, who orchestrated the attack, pleaded not guilty but was convicted of first-degree murder in April 2013 and sentenced to 52 years in prison. Brian Gaither initially pleaded guilty to first-degree murder but later appealed and was granted a new trial; in April 2017, he pleaded guilty again and received a 32-year sentence. The other defendants received sentences ranging from 18 to 21 years. Despite the convictions, Latisha Frazier's body has never been recovered. Authorities believe her remains are likely in a landfill in Virginia, but the cost and low probability of success have prevented a search.
Last Seen: Aug 02, 2010
